The impasse between Ghana Airways and the Saudi aviation authorities that stalled the airlifting of pilgrims for this year?s Hajj has been resolved. This followed the payment of the $130,000 advanced guarantee fee that Ghanair was required to pay before they could be given landing rights at the Jeddah International Airport for the airlifting of the pilgrims.

Consequently, 268 pilgrims were expected to depart for Jeddah yesterday. The Head of Marketing of Ghana Airways, Mr Emmanuel Ransford Akai, who made this known in an interview in Accra yesterday, said another 268 pilgrims will take off at 8a.m. today.He said upon the payment of the amount, the Saudi authorities re-assigned Ghana Airways a new landing facility for the pilgrims.

He also said that the revised flight schedule that was sent to the Saudi authorities as result of the initial delays has been approved but he could not give details.

Mr Akai commended the government and the Saudi Ambassador to Ghana for their assistance in resolving the stand-off.

He expressed the hope that the airline would be able to convey all the 1300 pilgrims by February 5, ahead of the scheduled date for the closure of the Jeddah International Airport, February 7. Mr Akai noted that the National Hajj Board, Ghana Airways authorities, Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) and Ghana Immigration Service officials are all seriously working around the clock to ensure that there are no hitches in the airlifting of the pilgrims to Saudi for this year?s Hajj.

He assured the pilgrims that Ghana Airways will do everything within its capability to ensure safe and comfortable flights to and from Saudi Arabia. Mr Akai cautioned the pilgrims against carrying huge luggage and hinted that some of the items might be confiscated at the Jeddah International Airport.

The Ghana Airways aircraft which departed to Jeddah on Wednesday with the first batch of 268 pilgrims was grounded in Saudi Arabia as a result of the airline?s indebtedness to the Saudi aviation authorities. Ghana Airways initially paid $165,000 but still had an outstanding debt of $130,000.

The Saudi authorities grounded the airline?s aircraft and demanded the payment of the full amount before they would release the aircraft to resume the airlifting of the conveying of the pilgrims for this year?s Hajj.